One Body, Different Parts

 “Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” — Romans 12:4-5 (CSB) 

Growing up, I was often told that I could be anything I wanted to be. While that message was meant to empower me, it also carried a heavy weight — the pressure of infinite possibilities,  constantly achieving something, to meet expectations, and to prove myself through success. 

When I first entered the Pittsburgh Fellows program, that same mindset came with me. I pictured a cohort full of high performers striving for excellence — young professionals who had it all together, chasing success in their careers and faith with equal drive. But over these past two months, I’ve realized that Pittsburgh Fellows is something entirely different. 

Rather than encouraging relentless striving, this program invites us to live differently — to trade hustle for holiness, and efficiency for presence. It challenges the cultural rhythm of busyness that tells us our worth is defined by productivity. Instead, it creates space for rest, reflection, and spiritual growth. We practice disciplines like Sabbath, prayer, and Bible study not as boxes to check, but as rhythms that shape our hearts. 

What makes this cohort so unique isn’t just the quality of the people in it, but the diversity of who we are. We come from different walks of life, levels of spiritual maturity, professional paths, and perspectives. Yet in all that difference, there’s a shared desire to grow together. We learn from one another — from the extroverts and the quiet thinkers, the dreamers and the planners — and in doing so, we experience what it truly means to be the body of Christ. 

Through this experience, I’ve learned that real growth doesn’t happen through competition but through connection. It’s not about being the “best” Fellow, but about being faithful to the part God has given each of us to play. 

Romans 12 reminds us that we are one body with many parts — and that every part matters. In this season, I’m learning that my role isn’t to do it all, but to do my part well — in grace, in humility, and in community. 

-Written by Sarah Westmoreland, Class of 2026

Sarah graduated from Eastern University and is working at HerSafeHaven as a Pittsburgh Fellow.